Hair offered to quit for $500,000: Speed

Hair responded to Speed's public disclosure of his letter by claiming he rescinded the offer.

Umpire Darrell Hair offered to resign in the wake of the fourth Test fiasco if the ICC paid him $500,000, according to ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed on Friday.

Hair and fellow umpire Billy Doctrove ruled that Pakistan illegally interfered with the ball on Sunday in the final Test against England at The Oval and imposed a five-run penalty. The visitors protested by not coming out after the tea break and the Test was awarded to England, which won the series 3-0. Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was charged with ball-tampering and for bringing the game into disrepute, sparking fears that Pakistan would withdraw from the upcoming five-match one-day series.

"On Tuesday, 22 August, I was handed a letter written on that day by Darrell Hair to Doug Cowie, who is the ICC umpires and referees manager," Speed said. "When I received the letter it is fair to say I was extremely surprised by the content and concerned as to how I should deal with it.

"In the letter, Darrell Hair offered to leave his job as a top official in the ICC in exchange for a payment of $500,000.

"Darrell Hair was under great stress when he wrote these letters, and I am confident that Darrell Hair had no dishonest, underhand or malice intent -- he was seeking to find a solution in the interests of the game," Speed added.

The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed on Friday that the one-day series will go ahead, while Speed said Inzamam's hearing will be in the second half of September at a date to be determined. Speed and three other unidentified ICC members met with Hair on Friday to discuss his letter.

"I told Darrell he is not sacked, not suspended, and has not been charged," Speed said. "But I couldn't guarantee each of those positions could be maintained indefinitely."

Hair responded to Speed's public disclosure of his letter by claiming he rescinded the offer.

"There is now a communication from myself to the ICC in the public domain," Hair said in a statement. "This correspondence was composed after a very difficult time and was revoked by myself two days later after a period of serious consideration. "There was no malicious intent behind this communication with the ICC. I am anxious that the code of conduct hearing takes place as soon as possible so these matters can be resolved and allow me to move on with my umpiring."